For Gaza’s homeless, Eid is time for despair | Reuters
GAZA, Nov 25 (Reuters) – In the days leading up to Eid al-Adha, Zaid Khadar would usually be buying new clothes for his children and stocking up on traditional foods to celebrate one of the most important dates on the Muslim calendar.
Instead, he struggles to shield them from the winter rain dripping through the roof of the shelter that has housed his family since they were made homeless by Israel's three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip almost a year ago.
“My children are saying: 'Why aren't you bringing us clothes? Why don't you get a sheep to slaughter?'” said Khadar.
For the homeless in Gaza, this year's Eid al-Adha, which falls on Friday, is a time to reflect on all they have lost in a year when already tough conditions in the blockaded territory of 1.5 million people went from bad to worse.
Hundreds of Gaza families made homeless during the war still live in tents, the United Nations says. Many more are living in the ruins of their houses or with relatives.
Reconstruction has been hampered by the Israeli blockade that stops materials such as cement and steel reaching the Hamas-ruled territory, despite billions of dollars of aid pledges. U.N. officials have expressed concern about the added hardship the homeless will face as winter sets in. [ID:nL9433961]
Imposing the Gaza blockade with Egyptian help, Israel says it restricts the supply of materials that could be used for military purposes by Hamas and other armed groups which say they are bent on the destruction of the Jewish state.
via For Gaza’s homeless, holiday is time for despair | Reuters.
